The technological world is changing faster than ever before. What only a few years ago was done by powerful desktops, today a thin laptop can easily do. A new chapter in this shift is NPU – Neural Processing Unit, which is fundamentally changing the way devices work with artificial intelligence. It delivers higher performance, lower power consumption and the ability to process data directly on the device – without relying on the cloud. And while GPUs aren’t losing their relevance just yet, the advent of NPUs suggests that the future of computing is starting to be rewritten.
What is an NPU – Neural Processing Unit
A Neural Processing Unit is a specialized chip designed to accelerate artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks. While the CPU handles general computing and manages the running of the system, and the GPU excels at parallel data processing – for example, in games or rendering, the NPU – Neural Processing Unit goes even further. It focuses on tasks that require analysis, recognition and decision-making, precisely those that use neural networks.
Unlike a graphics chip, which “brute force” processes huge amounts of numbers, the NPU approaches computation differently. Its architecture mimics the way the human brain works, using intelligent patterns of computation instead of brute force to evaluate data faster and more efficiently. This allows it to recognize objects in a photo, understand a voice command, translate text, analyze video, also post-edit video or generate an image, all in real time and right on the device, without the need for the cloud.
This capability is also why experts are starting to talk about a possible market shift.
The NPU – Neural Processing Unit can take over some of the work that the GPU does today, especially in AI inference, that is, at the point when the already trained model is making decisions. While the GPU remains unsurpassed in training large models and graphical computations, the NPU can handle the same tasks faster, more economically and with less device overheating.
The figure below is a very simplified representation of the difference between the CPU, GPU, and the NPU itself.
- The CPU (left) has several powerful cores and a large cache, focused on general-purpose tasks and system management.
- The GPU (middle) has a number of parallel “stream multiprocessors – SM” that enable fast processing of graphics and numerical computations.
- The NPU (right) contains dedicated Tensor Processing Cores and functional units tailored for AI operations (such as activations, pooling or normalization), along with control logic for data flow and compression of neural network weights.
Neil C. Hughes
Benefits that change the way you work
The biggest benefit of the NPU – Neural Processing Unit is the efficient processing of data directly in the device. While the processor and graphics chip often need more power and energy, the NPU handles the same AI tasks faster and with minimal power consumption. In practice, this means the laptop can behave more intelligently and respond to the user, optimizing performance while saving battery.
For example, modern devices with NPU can remove noise from video, automatically adjust the image according to lighting conditions, or transcribe spoken word to text without the need for an internet connection. This moves AI from the cloud directly to your device – faster, safer and more accessible than ever before.
Today, NPU support is also being added to well-known applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, which use local AI acceleration for video, image or text processing.
So NPU does not bring the end of the GPU era, but opens a new direction where AI computations run silently in the background, efficiently and directly at the user’s fingertips. In terms of everyday work, this means smoother system operation and new possibilities for creating, editing and automating everyday tasks. And on a broader scale, a greener approach, as lower energy consumption reduces the carbon footprint and makes modern devices more sustainable.
Manufacturers who have already bet on NPU
The biggest technology players already understand that the future of performance belongs to chips with integrated intelligence. NPU – Neural Processing Unit is becoming a key component of modern processors and each manufacturer is developing it in its own way.
- Intel – integrates the CPU, GPU and NPU into a single chip. Core Ultra processors (Meteor Lake, Lunar Lake) offer up to 48 TOPS performance and handle advanced AI tasks directly in Windows. Collaboration with Microsoft on the Copilot PC platform enables AI functions to be processed locally, without the need for the cloud.
- AMD – focuses on the balance between performance and power. The Ryzen AI 300 Series uses an integrated AI Engine that enables efficient AI processing with low power consumption and extends the life of laptops.
- Apple – builds on its own Neural Engine built into the M-series chips. In the M4 model, it achieves a performance of around 38 TOPS and works in perfect harmony with macOS. It handles all processes internally – fast, secure and without an internet connection.
- Qualcomm – bringing high AI performance to mobile devices. The Snapdragon X Elite processor with around 45 TOPS is designed for ultra-thin laptops and convertible devices, where low power consumption and long battery life play a major role.
These numbers, TOPS (tera operations per second), show that the battle for NPU performance is already in full swing. However, it’s not just about speed. Each manufacturer is looking for its own balance between performance, efficiency and the use of AI directly in the device. The NPU – Neural Processing Unit is thus becoming the new benchmark for technological progress – just as the number of cores or the clock speed of a processor used to be.
Conclusion
The NPU – Neural Processing Unit represents a new stage in the evolution of computing. It speeds up AI operations, reduces power consumption and allows devices to work autonomously, without dependence on the cloud. It brings intelligence right where the user needs it, in the core of the system itself.
While the GPU remains the king of raw power and the CPU the universal brain of the system, the NPU – Neural Processing Unit becomes the intuitive part of it that understands, predicts and optimizes. The future of computing therefore rests not on one of these units, but on them working together.